Quick Answer
Half a cow in Tennessee costs $1,800-2,500 ($8.00-11.50/lb per pound take-home). There are 5 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: May-July or November-December. Most beef is grain-finished.
Tennessee ranks in the top 20 cattle states with 1.7-1.8 million head, predominantly in cow-calf operations. The state sits in the heart of the 'Fescue Belt' which both enables production and creates challenges. The growing Nashville and Memphis metro populations drive increasing demand for locally-sourced beef.
Half cow: $1,800-2,500
Hanging weight: $3.75-6.25/lb
Take-home: $8.00-11.50/lb
Peak season: May-July or November-December
Tennessee has two peak harvest windows: late spring (May-July) during the 'spring flush' when cattle have maximized gains on lush cool-season forages, and late fall (November-December) after the 'fall flush' before winter feeding begins. Avoid August-September when fescue toxicosis creates the 'summer slump' with potential quality issues.
Black Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, Gelbvieh
Typical practice: Grain-finished
Tennessee's distillery industry creates a unique beef product: some producers finish cattle on spent distillers grains from bourbon production. This 'whiskey-finished' beef is marketed as a specialty product. Ask about feed sources—local by-products can enhance both sustainability and flavor.
Knoxville
★5.0(4)Leading East Tennessee supplier of 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef. Farm to table whole and half beefs delivered to Knoxville and surrounding areas.
Covington
★5.0(38)Covington, Tennessee all-natural beef products. Whole cow, half cow and quarter cow available through their reservation system.
Columbia
★5.0(112)Tennessee farm offering quarter, half, and whole beef. Assortment of steaks, roasts, and ground beef. Reserve your cow today.
Knoxville
Locally owned Knoxville, Tennessee cattle farm providing grass-fed Black Angus beef. Whole cow averages 400 lbs, half cow 200 lbs. Both grass-finished and grain-finished options.
Nashville
Premium pasture-raised meat from small farms in Kentucky and Tennessee. Known for hard-to-find cuts and dry-aged beef. Flexible delivery schedules.
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A half cow in Tennessee costs $1,800-2,500 total. At $4.50/lb hanging weight (360 lbs), expect ~$1,620 for meat, plus $50 kill fee (half share) and $1.00/lb processing (~$360), totaling ~$2,030. Tennessee's competitive pricing reflects the state's strong cattle industry. Take-home yield is about 215-235 lbs.
The 'summer slump' (July-September) occurs when fescue toxicosis reduces cattle performance. Toxic endophytes in Kentucky-31 fescue cause cattle to retain heat, reducing appetite and weight gain. Beef harvested during this period may be leaner and potentially tougher. Target late spring (May-July) or late fall (November-December) harvest for optimal quality.
Some Tennessee producers finish cattle on spent distillers grains from bourbon production—a high-energy by-product from the state's whiskey industry. This adds a unique finishing feed that may impart subtle flavor characteristics and represents sustainable use of local resources. Ask producers about their finishing program; it's a distinctive Tennessee specialty.
Tall fescue is Tennessee's dominant pasture grass. While it's resilient and productive, most contains a toxic endophyte that causes cattle stress in summer heat. Forward-thinking producers manage toxicity through novel-endophyte varieties, clover integration, or careful harvest timing. Ask about fescue management—it separates knowledgeable producers from average ones.
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